York Freshers Autumn 2012

Go on whats your story...

I was annoyed as well. My first choice was James Ensuite 33 week let or I at least wanted a 33 week ensuite anywhere on Hes West. I got the email at 4pm when all the good rooms had been sorted through and had to go Langwith premium Ensuite on a 39 week let. I was so annoyed, felt like having a good shout down the phone to them but decided that the person on the end of the phone probably wasn't responsible!

I'm warming to the idea of the brand new accommodation now and hopefully it'll be really cool out on Hes East. The system still needs to change though, they advertise it as 'first come, first served' but really it's a lottery with the computer system. I don't see why they can't just give people 3 choices and try to accomodate them into one of them choices!

Almost exactly the same except I'm in langwith standard. I sent them an email complaining but all they do is insist the system is fair (HUH?!) and that it isn't their problem. Not happy with them ATM.

I'm going to be studying psychology, what about you?

And they were saying that every system relies on luck and they've developed this one using feedback from students (god knows which students). They said they were never going to guarantee that their accommodation could be paid using a student loan alone and basically that I should either like it or lump it. They said that they've advertised accommodation costs all year so I should have known what I was getting into.

Except I didn't know what I was getting into because I thought I was applying for affordable accommodation at £3800-£4000 a year and I could get a 33 week let!

I'll be studying Economics. My cousin is doing her PhD in Psychology at the moment, all her books seem to be about Freud.

It's all well them saying that every system requires luck but the York one happens to require a lot more luck than the others! I thought I would be getting cheap accommodation as well because my maintenance loan isn't really that much but nooooo. Looks like i'm going have to rely on the parents quite a lot instead which I really didn't want to do.

When I phoned my mammy to tell her what accommodation I had, she started crying down the phone because she's only a nurse so it's not like she has huge amounts of money. We both had out hearts set on getting the cheapest accommodation possible but now we've got to try and find an extra £700+

Guess I'll have to keep working at Greggs and hope that I win the lottery.

Hi Elizabeth - I'm Rhiannon and I'm doing HoA too! Can't wait to start the course, so unbelievably exciting! Nice to know that I won't actually be the only student in the lecture hall

When I phoned my mammy to tell her what accommodation I had, she started crying down the phone because she's only a nurse so it's not like she has huge amounts of money. We both had out hearts set on getting the cheapest accommodation possible but now we've got to try and find an extra £700+

Guess I'll have to keep working at Greggs and hope that I win the lottery.

That's terrible! My heart goes to you! Is there really nothing that could be done? No option for you to sway for a cheaper room? Uni should help you not cause so much problems, did you try calling them? That's something horrible!

I feel so bad for you! That's exactly the point I was making about the accommodation lottery, a lot of people can't pick there college at leisure as they have financial constraints etc. but instead they are forced into expensive accommodation. Is there nothing the University can do for you like giving you a shorter let maybe? You could also work a shift or two a week part time if you really need the money but i'm sure you would rather enjoy the Uni experience (Especially at the start) rather than have to work from the end of Freshers week The University should definitely try to help!

A lot of my friends start on about the 17th. We've got nearly another 20 days extra of waiting to do, the days will start to get so long once everyone else starts at Uni and we're waiting to start!

I was leaning towards Derwent but I can't decide! I've heard good things about Goodricke but appearently its further away from the English department, so I'm really unsure. What about you?

Yeah it would be so great to do a year abroad – at the moment I’m really jealous of a couple of friends who are taking a gap year and travelling, which I’m kind of wishing I’d done now (if I magically acquired the money to do it, of course ) and so maybe an Erasmus year or something would be a good way to do that later... Also, there’s a foreign literature option at some point in the course, isn’t there, so I should probably bear that in mind when choosing a language this year... Arghh, decisions!


Haha I think my hatred of Chemistry came from the fact that I was terrified of the teacher... Biology was the only science I quite liked, actually



I’ve only just started too – I know we got the email a while ago but I didn’t want to look at the list until I’d got my results... it seemed too much like tempting fate, daft as that sounds I’ve just done a massive Amazon order for it all and so my bank account is now not very happy

Yeah she's working with one of the department researchers either on an anti-cancer patent or nanomedicine - I can't remember which. Most of her course have gone on placement though. I'm doing a masters in english after doing my undergrad here.

Did you do an undergrad in English lit then? Did you enjoy the course?

WHAATTTT???!!!?!?!?!

Okay, so we're all great for getting in York, well done everyone, I think we can all be really proud

But seriously? I've finally got my email, and applied, yet there were only three colleges left, all pretty far from my department (all right, I'm not fussed by a walk), and I could choose between either pretty much standard-catered, standard (thankfully, which I've chosen ) or an ensuite for 51 weeks - that works out nigh 6 grand!!

So I'm in Halifax standard. Not what I wanted, but we are all in the same boat. But no offence, but if that's the choice for me, what about the people tomorrow etc??

I originally thought the idea was we picked our room, picked whether we wanted to be catered, picked how long we want it? Some people are really struggling with money, how are they going to get on when the only option they have left is 51-weeks ensuite?? :O

But moan over, just been stress all day at pc -.- I look forward to meeting all of you, seriously, I never moan :P Sorry to :/

Thanks haha

Hi Nicole! Well done on getting in - I'm going to be in Halifax too. This has been such a stressful day! Well done on nursing, I'll be in music